Despite the wide variety of personal meanings, happiness can also be regarded in a scientific approach according to many modern psychologists.

Maria Vita, psychology teacher at Penn Manor High School, explained a few of the factors that have been proven to impact personal happiness:

-Control over your situations. The feeling of being able to change and control your daily situations plays a big part in your level of happiness. Although people have different approaches to control, some leaving control to fate and some feeling personal control, it comes down to the same thing.

-Your experience with love and happiness as a child. In studies, it’s been proven that people who are held and nurtured as small children, are more likely to have happy adults lives. This contact as a child helps adults to (subconsciously) carry a sense of security and comfort into their adulthood.

-Daily activities. Work can be a source of happiness when it provides a sense of accomplishment. Interacting with other people also contributes, as humans are social beings.

Time Magazine also recently published a list of helpful hints to live a happier, healthier life, found here.

Lancaster County may not need any help from Time Magazine, however, as it was ranked 15th happiest out of 188 cities in the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index of 2010.

Though the specifics of individual happiness may vary from person to person, it is agreed among Penn Manor that happiness is key.

“The happier you are, maybe the longer you live,” said Vita.

“Happiness is setting some sort of goal and achieving it,” said senior Lars Andersen.

“Whatever you find joy and satisfaction in, is happiness,” said Mylin.